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SS Wahehe (1922)

History
Name:
  • Wadigo (1922)
  • Wahehe (1922–40)
  • Empire Citizen (1940–41)
Namesake:
Owner:
  • Woermann Linie AG (1922–40)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1940–41)
Operator:
  • Woermann Linie AG (1922–40)
  • P Henderson & Co (1940–41)
Port of registry:
  • Weimar Republic Hamburg (1922–33)
  • Nazi Germany London (1933–40)
  • United Kingdom London (1940–41)
Builder: Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte und Maschinenfabrik
Launched: 1922
Completed: August 1922
Out of service: 3 February 1941
Identification:
  • code letters RCQH (1922–34)
  • ICS Romeo.svgICS Charlie.svgICS Quebec.svgICS Hotel.svg
  • call sign DHZD (1934–40)
  • ICS Delta.svgICS Hotel.svgICS Zulu.svgICS Delta.svg
  • call sign GLCB (1940–41)
  • ICS Golf.svgICS Lima.svgICS Charlie.svgICS Bravo.svg
  • United Kingdom Official Number 167505 (1940–41)
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk by U-107
General characteristics
Tonnage:
  • 4,690 GRT (1922–34)
  • 4,709 GRT (1934–40)
  • 4,683 GRT (1940–41)
  • 2,686 NRT (1922–34)
  • 2,771 NRT (1934–40)
  • 2,736 NRT (1940–41)
Length: 361 ft 2 in (110.08 m)
Beam: 50 ft 3 in (15.32 m)
Depth: 23 ft 7 in (7.19 m)
Installed power: Quadruple expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Screw propeller
Capacity: At least 12 passengers (Wahehe, Empire Citizen)
Crew: 69 +2 DEMS gunners (Empire Citizen)

Wahehe was a 4,690 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1922 as Wadigo by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte und Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg for Woermann Linie AG. She was converted to a refrigerated cargo liner in about 1934.

At sea when war was declared in 1939, she sought refuge at Vigo, Spain. Wahehe sailed from Vigo in February 1940 in an attempt to reach Germany but was captured by the Royal Navy. She was declared a war prize and handed over to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), being renamed Empire Citizen. On 3 February 1941, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-107.

The ship was built by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte und Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg. She was laid down as Wadigo and completed in August 1922 as Wahehe. She was named after first the Digo people and then the Hehe people. Both are tribes in Tanganyika Territory, which until 1918 was German East Africa and with which Woermann Linie still traded.

The ship was 361 feet 2 inches (110.08 m) long, with a beam of 50 feet 3 inches (15.32 m) and a depth of 23 feet 7 inches (7.19 m). She had a GRT of 4,690 and a NRT of 2,686.

The ship was propelled by a quadruple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 21 4⁄5 inches (55 cm), 32 3⁄10 inches (82 cm), 47 inches (120 cm) and 69 inches (180 cm) diameter by 49 4⁄5 inches (126 cm) stroke.


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